Glum's smile widened into a grin at the admonition to make merry in the street.  While his order was constrained against excess, on festivals there was a more than moderate degree of fun to be had even without drinking oneself under the table, as many a dwarf might have done, or stuffing oneself with food until one could no longer move.

In his own way of enjoyment, Glum grabbed a couple of ribs and a drumstick from a bird he did not recognise and made his way through the crowd.  His mode of locomotion could best be described as capering, and later, he was sure, he would add some tumbling to his "dancing".  For now though, he satisfied himself with nibbling his food, drinking fruit juice and chatting with the more amiable or interesting people in the crowd (or, let's face it, the prettiest girls).

"Hello," he said, "Have a happy festival.  I am Glum, the world's least dour dwarf.  I'm pleased to meet you."

   Catessa entered the town of Sandpoint on her way south to see the life along the coast, and to see the mush fens.  The lands around were wild as they said, until she neared Sandpoint.  The farms were her first indication of a settlement.

   Once in town, Catessa had heard something about a cathedral to Sarenrae in the town of Sandpoint.  And something about Swallowtails, which was of interest.  She did not realize the cathedral was only now just finished.  As she neared the temple, the press of the crowd made her uncomfortable.  But her curiosity drove her on towards the fromt to see.  Her short stature was at times a drawback.

   "Excuse me." she said more times than she could count as she moved through the forest of people, thicker than any briar. "I can't see."  She would explain.

   "Ow!" the halfling said as she tried to move near.  She looked to see a strange dwarf.  "Excuse me, sir dwarf.  Could you move please?  You're standing on my foot."  Cat waited patiently for Glum to move.  But the pain was starting to become intense.

Glum looked at the halfling lady before him and moved his foot.  "I'm sorry", he said. "were you trying to see?"  He continued looking her as if appraising.  "Would you say that you and your things weighed less than 70 pounds?" he asked. "Because, short though I am, and not all that strong, if you were on my shoulders, with my four feet beneath you, you'd probably be able to see above the heads of some of the smaller members of the crowd."

Stalking past the merry-makers of his village, the hulking warrior gave the immidiate impression that he at least was not in the same jovial mood.  A twine wrapped jug, purchased at the Fatman's Feedbag, hung from his index finger and occasionally he would pull it up to his lips to take a large pull of the fiery liquor.  He looked to have not shaved in several days and he stank of not washing in at least an equal amount of time.  Oblivious to his effect upon those around him, he would occasionally rebuke the happy towns-people for being naive to the cruelty of the world.

Sighting the capering dwarf, he sets his shoulders and moves up to the bearded fellow, "Oy!  What be you so happy about dwarf?!  Can you not see the joke life has played upon you, eh?  Short on stature and on wits I warrant."  Hearing the halfling now, he looks down where he was about to step on her and stumbles instead backwards awkwardly before falling on his backside in a cloud of dust where he simply continues now to sit and rail against cruel fate.

"My lady-love has forsaken me and now I have only the company of mad dwarves and halflings, eh, why must the gods so forsake me?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:32, Tue 06 Jan 2009.

  Catessa bent down and rubs her foot.  There would probably be some bruising.  She looked back up at the dwarf, facing him with a smile.  "Thank you, sir dwarf.  Perhaps we should introduce ourselves properly first?  I am Catessa Fallowfield.  I serve Sarenrae and nature.  I'm passing through Sandpoint on my way south to see the Mushfens.  It is good to meet you."  She bows her head slightly as she greets Glum, and then waits gracious for him to respond in kind.

Glum smiled, "I am Glum the Resilient, the least dour dwarf in history (or so I like to think).  I'm a monk and very pleased to meet you Catessa."

Then he looked up to see the man towering above.  "Hello Colossus, I'm not Happy, I'm Glum.  Happy fell head over heels in love with some albino woman and I've not seen him for months.  This is Catessa.  Who are you and would you mind lifting her onto your shoulders so that she can see better.  I imagine you're stronger than me, and you're definitely taller."

Talis stepped off the boat, his posessions slung over one shoulder. The rogue stood on the dock for a moment, observing the crowd gathered for the festival. He had remembered Sandpoint as a bigger town, but wrote it off as a childish delusion. He had only been to Sandpoint a few times in his early life. Five times, he counted precisely; four on the yearly run for supplies and seeds, and one last time to board a boat headed for Riddleport. Has it really been ten years?
Talis stood there a moment longer, observing the people from a distance. He knew he didn't know these people, but there was still a connection their. Though, perhaps the connection was in the land more then the people. The rogue laughed out loud, realising at random that he didn't even remember how to use a plow.
Even if he didn't stick around, Talis was glad that the next few days, or weeks, would offer a measure of peace that Riddleport simply could not offer. "Am I home then?" Talis asked rhetorically to the town.

   "How rude!" Cat remarks indignantly.  "Come on Glum.  This barbaric hulk has no manners!  Too much drink, too, I think."

   Cat turns away from the crude man and then smiles at Glum and says "Not to worry if you are short wits, my friend.  You have more than the big lug, and I have enough for both of us."  She cracks a large smile to let the dwarf know clearly that all is in jest.

Having arrived the night before and also having enjoyed the merryment of the crowds the Gnomish woman Naomi walked upon the Dwarf and Halfling discoursing with the much taller human who seemed to partake of the particular mood of Dour to a degree not pleasant to observe.

"Come on now tall one.  To you we may be small of stature, but you do not need to be small of heart for your great size.  Come join all and be marry, or at least have a pint with me and discuss your woes."  She says to him.

As the big warrior sits upon the ground and cradles his jug, he looks to the small figure of Catessa and seems about to give a retort when a large belch instead escapes his mouth.  Hearing yet another diminutive female addressing him he turns to look at Naomi, now able to look her face to face.  He scowls, "Another one?  Has the world shrunk around me in my sorrow?!"  Lifting the liquor back to his mouth, he takes a long pull then coughs as the fiery liquor burns down his throat.  Finally, shaking his head in defeat, "I shall never marry nor be merry for such a destiny have the fates handed me.  But if you are buying, I will let you buy a round as my jug looks to be empty."  He illustrates this point by upturning the bottle and watching sadly as but a few drops spill out to land upon the ground between his out-stretched legs before tossing the jug from him.  Slowly he begins to rise back up to his feet, though a bit unsteadily.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:04, Tue 06 Jan 2009.

As the large human is rising Naomi takes the opportunity to attach herself to his back, knowing that she isn't much of a burden on the larger folk but intent on being a little Imp given half a chance is nothing to be avoided.

"Sure!" She chirps happily.  "though you do not have to Marry to be Merry.  I am sure plenty would find one such as you pleasant, though some would probably find it daunting as well."  She says into his ear as he rises.

Taking one last view of the town from afar, Talis headed in an Eastward direction, making his way towards the center of the town. When he got to the center of the crowd, he was surprised to see the new church. The rogue had heard the purpose of todays festival was to celebrate the new cathedral, after some fire that had destroyed the previous one, but it was just words until now. It was just one of many things that had changed, but it came as a shock. Talis had never really encountered change in Riddleport, but now that he had a taste of it, he decided he wasn't terribly fond of change.
Afer staring at the church for a moment, Talis moved on, to calm his empty stomach, and to secure lodgings for the night. Vaguely remembering a place called the Rusty Dragon, where he and his father would stay on their yearly trip for supplies, Talis set off again.

The Rusty Dragon
Making his way in, Talis went straight to the bar. A little worried that with all the visitors, lodgings would be hard to come by, he figured he had better not delay any longer.
"Pardon me. I'm looking to rent a room for the night, if you have any available. Supper would be delightful as well." He spoke towards whomever was behind the counter.

Glum pauses as he considers whether the 'big lunk' might be offended, but then he sees a gnomish woman working her mojo on him to try to get him to smile.  "He's not so much rude", suggested Glum, "as heartbroken." He smiles back at Catessa as she leads him away.  "And I'm sure that gnomish lady will be able to make him forget his heartbreak in a hurry.  He'll be laughing by sundown I shouldn't wonder."

   Now that Catessa understands the social situation, she tells Glum "Oh.  I see.  Perhaps I was too harsh, and owe the big lug an apology."  She turns and begins to tug softly on Garth's clothes.

   When he turns to he she speaks loud enough for Garth to hear her over the bustle and noise of the crowd.  "I apologize for my shortness with you sir.  I am sorry for your loss.  Perhaps we could enjoy the festival together?"  Cat's face and tone of voice match her apologetic and sympathetic words.  She looks at him for some sign of forgiveness.

It is unclear if the large man even notices the additional weight upon his broad shoulders as he rises, nor does he seem to feel the other halfling tugging at his mail as he walks on oblivious.  He seems still to be in a sad, inebriated funk as he continues to pine for his lost lady-love.  Still, he follows his new comrades docilely enough.  "I am Garth of the Oakenshields, this was where I grew up and first met Mara."  Here he wails a bit more before continuing on with his sad tale, "The Oakenshields are a proud family, but not rich.  I did not have anything to offer a bride's family and so I took my father's sword and went off to campaign for the mighty lords who pay well for blood and sweat.  Oh how I dreamed of my return home into the arms of the beautiful Mara."  More wails.  "Now she is in the arms of another!" A look of rage fills his eyes and it is easy to see how quickly his mood can go from one extreme to a murderous other, "I shall spend this fortune on ale and if I awake in the morning, I shall have the head of the man who stole Mara!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Wed 07 Jan 2009.

Feeling heartfelt sorrow for his loss and for what he is going through Naomi continues to hold on to him but does talk to him as he walks along.  "You do know, once you adventure, that a townsgirl you knew in your youth is only second pickings.  No matter how fond the memory, she is but that.  And holding her memory to your sould oft times doth not do you well.  She takes a moment to rub his shoulders with her free arm from her lofted position on his back. "I can only offer you the advice once given to me when I but pined away for a local lad who married whilst I was away.  That he could not keep up, and I would be better off seeking one who could keep with my ways than to just pine my years away."

Thinking for a moment she then said "And besides, what would you do after taking the life of a lowly town worm?  Sit and rot in the Jail?  Flee and be outlawed?  Join with us and enjoy life.  We can show you fun as you let time heal your wounds."

A woman comes around the corner.  She must be from the Kaijitsu family because she is human, but most definitely not Cheliax, Varisian or Shoanti.  You recall they were a family from the other side of the world that helped found Sandpoint, but you don't remember them running this place.  She is exotically beautiful with a smile that seems to go on forever and a hairdo that defies gravity, and has living butterflies in it.  Wow.  "I am sorry, all my rooms are booked, but I may have something tonight.  Check back after the final ceremonies at sundown.  I suspect you will find that's the case everywhere, sorry.  If you'll give me your name I'll hold a room for you if one becomes available.  The good news is, meals are free."  She smiles, takes your name and leaves for "prior engagements".

   Catessa sighs, looking a bit dejected as the big man ignores her and turns away.  But halflings are never sad for long there is much to see and do.  And she did have an interesting companion to talk to.  She turn back to Glum with a slight smile and asks him "So what brings you to Sandpoint, Glum?  You don't seem the type to come for the celebration.  Do you want to go get something to eat and drink?"  Her tone of voice is hopeful when she asks this second question.

Glum smiles, "First, I'd love to eat and I'm so glad you asked." With that, he puts his hand on his hip and offers his elbow to Catessa as they make their way to a place where food can be found.

"I came here because my Master asked me to attend as a last task before it's time for me to make my own way in the world.  Not often you see a cathedral dedicated to six gods".

  Cat takes Glum's elbow with her arm and walks with him into the streets.  Cat looks about for a suitable place to eat as she talks with Glum, happy for the company.  It has been weeks since she had company, and she has missed it.

  Interested by Glum's statement, she continues to talk as she walks "You have a master?  Are you a mage?  What do you plan to do to make your way in the world?"

[Private to DM: Would it be best to go to the Rusty Dragon, where one of the other characters are already?]

Continueing to walk behind dwarf and halfling with yet another little person on his back, the big man is content to listen to the consolations of Naomi as he plods onwards though it is unclear how much sense is getting through his alchohol addled head.  Still, he has for the moment stopped both his wailing and his death threats.

Zer-wedula departed the ship after making sure all of his belongings were in place.  What were sailors, after all, but better groomed pirates?

He stepped lightly down the docks, Willi perched upon his shoulder.  She sat up, nose sniffing eagerly.  "No glamer for Willi," Zer-wedula muttered.

The captain had recommend an inn called the Hagfish or something, which had immediately rendered it unsuitable for one of Zer-wedula's refined tastes.  He supposed he would have to laboriously walk the town, regarding each inn in its turn, before finding suitable lodgings.  He sighed mightily and entered Sandpoint, determined to find an upstanding citizen to speed his quest.

As Cat steers the group along toward a place called the Rusty Dragon(37), they pass by an an weatherbeaten and decrepit manor house with an ancient Varisian woman out in front.  "Hello boy, I heard you came back."  [Private to Garth Oakenshield: Garth comes to with a start, it's Niska Mvashti, Mara's..., well you never did quite figure out what she was, grand, great-grand or great-great-grand mother.  And she's still alive.  She was old when the town was founded 40 years ago.]  The ancient woman looks like she could blow away with a little breeze, but somehow she doesn't.  She squints an old eye at your tall friend "Wrong for you she was, glad to see you back I am.  Just in time I think."  As she squints at the sun.  when someone starts to respond she says "No, no, now is not the time, but soon...hehe... tomorrow perhaps, if these old bones make it till then.  You youngsters have fun, run along, I need a nap in the warm sun.  KJHDTY." <the last in an unknown language>[Private to Catessa Fallowfield: Druidic, "welcome".  By the way, where is your dog?  Anywhere is fine, trust me...mwahahaha]  And then she apparently falls asleep.

Glum chuckles. "A mage? Goodness no, I don't have the brains for that.  I thought we'd established that.  I'm a monk and I intend to make my way in the world by treading softly and being kind to all."

As fate would have it, the ships docking did not go unnoticed.  An.... exotic looking man comes down the dock toward the boat, followed by a couple of Varisians.  Cheliaxian with bright blue eyes, long red hair, bronze-colored skin.  You don't know what to make of him, but he is clean, well dressed and carries a book.  "Captain, do you have my package",
"Aye, I do Mr Voon.  Got it here safe an' sound",
"Good, these men will take it to my shop.  Once I've checked it out they will return with the rest of the payment."  Business completed he walks back up the dock.  As he passes you, he gives a slight gesture "Good day to you sir, have you come for the Festival?"